This consistent theming done through each of the characters is where Washburn really excels in making this story flow, even as there is growth and shifts between them. Washburn’s title for the novel is clearly felt thematically through the book early on, as it shows the relationship that the shark incident had on the family through a multitude of perspectives and over time as each character develops when they wanted saviors, they got sharks. The simplified neatness of the book is also reflected in the chapter titles as well, as each one very clearly includes the name of the character whose perspective we are privy to during that chapter as well as the year in which the chapter is taking place. Split into sections that accrue a collection of chapters, he makes it easy to get right into the reading. Washburn will also likely draw in those who appreciate a straightforward opening to a novel, with no table of contents, heavy-handed forward, or prologue to read through. Colorful imagery dots the pages as we hear “the sparkling crash of beer bottles” in one scene and are brought to “the bland and heavy, pancake-smelling dining hall” a few chapters later the consistent immersion making it easy to transition from one scene to the next.
This makes the text not only extremely accessible, but also rich in flavor and diversity to any average reader. Through an understanding of Hawaiian mythology and culture, Washburn is able to transport us to these instances and places seamlessly, helping us see the world as the characters would. Through flowing language and intricate detail, Washburn paints a picture of change and struggle alongside these wondrous events that follow Nainoa throughout the book. Strong themes of family and heritage are explored in the work as each family member grapples with their own problems that resurface from the past, leading back to these supernatural instances. The novel switches character perspectives between chapters, making the lives of each of its characters stand out, especially in relation to each other. In his first debut novel, Sharks in the Time of Saviors, Kawai Strong Washburn delivers a fantastical tale of a family beset by the circumstances rising from an accident involving gifted middle-child Nainoa Flores being rescued miraculously by sharks when ending up overboard.
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